Boink, boinking (evidence for Moonlighting 1985 March 19)

[Ben Zimmer]

On Tue, Oct 12, 2010 at 12:34 AM, Garson O'Toole wrote:
>
> HDAS has a first cite in 1987 that says "Popularized by the TV show
> Moonlighting".
>
> OED (June 2008) has boink and boinking with sexual interpretations and
> first cites in 1986.
>
> Evidence online suggests that an episode of Moonlighting aired 1985
> March 19 contains boink and boinking. A document at the website
> davidandmaddie.com purports to be the script of an episode of titled
> "The Next Murder You Hear". It contains many instances of "boink"
> (plus bonus instances of boinking and even boinkety). A discussant at
> straightdope.com claims this is the first episode containing the term
> boink in Moonlighting.
>
> http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=168113
> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0651094/
>
> IMDB says this is a first season episode, the fourth of 66 episodes.
> It was first aired 19 March 1985 (USA). In the IMDB numbering system
> the pilot is episode one.
> Here are some excerpts from a supposed transcription:
>
> www.davidandmaddie.com/td/TD_1.4.pdf
>
> Maddie:  Given the amoral way he lived his life, his violent death
> comes as no surprise to me.
> David:  You’re mad because he boinked a couple of hausfraus?
> Maddie cannot believe what she has just heard.
> Maddie:  I’m not having this conversation.  We’re not taking this case.
>
> David:  No, no, no, no, no, no.  You’re repressed or obsessed or one
> of those “essed”
> words.  Every time something comes up that involves men or sex or…uh
> (searching for the word)
> Maddie:  Boinking?  Is that the word you’re looking for?
> David:  See what I mean.  That’s not normal.
> Maddie:  I’m supposed to sit here and discuss my mental health with a
> man who refers to the act of human procreation as “boinking”.
> David:  See, see what I mean?  Right away…you get all stiff and tense.
>
> David:  Ah, c’mon.  It’s not a school night.  There’s all kinds of
> great things going on out there. Can’t you hear them?
> Maddie:  Hear them?
> David:  Sure.  Boink.  Boink boink.  Boinkety boink boink.  Boink
> boink boink boinkety boink.
>
> I have not verified the script by watching the episode.

Clip here, with all the boinks:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nU3AIvfK04

--bgz


--
Ben Zimmer
http://benzimmer.com/

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